After Jordan Hall missed the first two games of the 2012 football season recovering from a freak offseason foot injury, Buckeyes fans were relieved to see the senior running back take the field against Cal in Week 3.

Three games later, those same fans watched Hall suffer a knee injury against Michigan State that would sideline what was supposed to be Ohio State’s version of Percy Harvin for the rest of the year.

Because his season was cut so short by injury, Hall applied for, and received, a medical redshirt from the NCAA, according to Brandon Castel of The-Ozone.net.

Ohio State officially confirms that RB Jordan Hall has received a medical redshirt for the 2012 season. Will be back in 2013.

Hall will return to an absolutely loaded backfield in 2013. With the likely return of soon-to-be senior Carlos Hyde, the Buckeyes also have Rod Smith, Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball on the roster. Not to mention the incoming freshman, Ezekiel Elliott, who is one of the most talented running back prospects in the country coming out of high school.

Hall carried the ball 40 times for 218 yards in 2012, highlighted by his 105-yard outing against UAB in Week 4. After scoring his first touchdown of the year on the first drive of the Michigan State game, Hall tore the PCL in his right knee on a first-down carry midway through the second quarter.

His return gives Ohio State almost too much depth at running back, but that certainly won't be the case if Hyde opts out of his senior season for the NFL. Without Hyde, Hall is the only running back on the roster who has carried any kind of legitimate load at the collegiate level.

Rod Smith was a solid backup to Carlos Hyde in 2012, rushing for 215 yards on 32 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) to go along with two touchdowns, but his fumbling issue forced Urban Meyer to give him a very short leash.

Regardless of Hyde's decision, though, Meyer will be happy to have Hall back on the team in 2013.